<title>Automatic machine vision for lace inspection</title>

Abstract

A central problem in automatic visual inspection and computer vision is determining the extend to which one shape differs from another. This is the key element of any inspection algorithm. Pattern recognition operations such as correlation, template matching and model based vision methods can all be viewed as techniques for determining the difference between shapes. One of the methods for measuring the 'difference' between two shapes such as a 'model' and an 'image' is using distance transforms. In this paper the problem of visual inspection of deformable materials in general and lace in particular is considered. A mechatronic approach based on correlation and distance transforms using a line-scan CCD camera is presented. The advantages and disadvantages of each procedure compared with other approaches are also discussed.